There are a lot of great restaurants in Doha. Indeed most of them are the best restaurants in all Middle East. Today, with help of TimeOut Doha, we are highlighting the best restaurants in Contemporary European category.

Time Out Doha Restaurant Award is the most sought-after prize of the region’s culinary calendar. The awards are the culmination of a year’s eating at Doha’s best – and worst – restaurants. Time Out reviews restaurants independently and pays for all its own review meals and them team is not influenced by advertising spend in the magazine or big reputations so the opinions in the reviews are honest and practical.

Best Contemporary European Shortlisted:

Aroma

http://www.kempinski.com/en/doha/residences/dining/restaurant/aroma/

Over the last year it’s made some major renovations, taking its solid European dishes on an experimental tour and we like it. It has a chilled, intimate atmosphere combined with solidly delectable food, including steaks and the signature camel burger paired with chickpea fries. If you want exciting, inventive dishes that will push your tongue into knots, this is the place.

Kempinski Residences & Suites (4405 3325)

Astor Grill

http://www.astorgrilldoha.com/

Why yes, we’d love to dine with the fancy folks at Downton Abbey. Encapsulating turn-of-the-century flair, it has mouth-watering steaks, sharing cuts of meat carved at the table and a presentation that makes us feel we should be summoning the servants to stoke the fireplace while we twirl our monocles. Seriously, there are tiny silver covers whipped from the plates as the staff presents them and fancy ice cream sundaes that make us feel very happy with the world.

The St. Regis Doha (4446 0000)

La Mer

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Doha/Dining/LaMer/Default.htm

High atop the 23rd floor sits the granddaddy of Qatar’s European restaurants. This is a slightly old-school restaurant that simply says ‘we are excellent already, why ever would we change to suit trends?’. The tables are set up to take advantage of the amazing views over the city and it’s simply perfect to a dining for two if you crave tasty, classic European favourites.

The Ritz-Carlton Doha (4484 8000)

Market by Jean-Georges

http://www.marketdoha.com/

It’s always a good time for the salmon, the crispy calamari or the sushi. We feel comfy turning up in jeans, but we also blend in if we’re dressed up to the nines. The food and servers are equally confident – menu changes and multiple visits consistently make our stomachs rumble in glee. Resistance is futile. It’s basically a foodie masterclass.

W Doha Hotel & Residences (4453 5135)

Opal by Gordon Ramsay

http://www.stregisdoha.com/en/opal-gordon-ramsay

Oh mighty Opal burger, descending like a meaty angel on to our plates, how we love you. It’s got the guts to serve up casual food in a fancy environment, which is good because we basically go into horrifying Cookie Monster spasms of gluttony every time we eat there. The food is fancy and yet accessible – you get the haute-cuisine experience without the intimidation. Huge cuts of meat and stunning mashed potatoes, as well as some excellent hammour ceviche round it off.

The St. Regis Doha (4446 0105)

Three Sixty

http://www.thetorchdoha.com/the-hotel/dining.aspx

Doha’s first and so far only revolving restaurant, gives you a fantastic moving view of the city alongside plates of delicous food. Home to the best caesar salad we’ve had in Doha, as well as amazing main dishes and a chocolate cake that makes us want to bury our faces in it and forgo cutlery entirely, we forgive the slightly bonkers presentation. We assume the person doing the plating is just dizzy from all the spinning. Focus on the flavours and you’ll come back time and again.

The Torch Doha (4446 5600)

Yum Yum

http://www.k108hotel.com/index_files/YumYum.html

With a mission behind the menu (proceeds go to charity), this venue already had us excited and feeling good even before we sat down. Once we did, however, we were lured in by the combination of the excellent views, the nice service and the French-inspired menu. With a selection of other classic European dishes, there’s a little bit for everyone here. It does its best at dinner, we think because no one really wants an excellent burger or gnocchi at breakfast.

K108 Hotel (4433 3000)